11 die of Lassa fever in seven states

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Friday said 77 new cases of Lassa fever had been confirmed in 13 states and Federal Capital Territory, stressing that 11 patients had been confirmed dead.

In its update on the outbreak of the disease, which was released on Friday, the NCDC said that between January 1 and 29, 2019, 538 suspected cases were reported in 16 states out of which 213 had been confirmed to be positive.

“From January 1 to 27, 2019, a total of 538 suspected cases have been reported from 16 states. Of these, 213 were confirmed positive, two probable and 325 negative. Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 42 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality rate in confirmed cases is 19.7 per cent.”

The NCDC stated that Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu and FCT had recorded at least one confirmed case across 40 council areas, adding that caregivers had been affected.

It said, “One new healthcare worker was affected in Enugu State. A total of four health care workers have been affected since the onset of the outbreak in Ondo (2), Ebonyi (1) and Enugu (1) with no death,” said NCDC.

It noted that 102 patients were currently being managed in various hospitals in Owo, Bauchi, Plateau, Taraba, Ebonyi and others.

It said that so far, a total of 2,070 contacts had been identified in eight states, out of which 1,673 were currently being followed up while 361 patients had already completed 21 days follow up.

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